A revised play guide to the game of Instructures for UX and product development teams.

1. Play Guide for Instructures®
(Restructured for UX)*
RULES:
GAMEPLAY:
ENDING THE GAME:
REFLECT:
Divide players into 2 evenly sized teams. Each team gets a set of 19 building blocks.
Assign a Foreman on each team who will draw the blueprints for the first round. After
every round, the Foreman on both teams must change. Everyone must serve as the
Foreman before the role is repeated.
Start with the Apprentice level blueprints. The Foremen both pick up the same
numbered blueprint card and lay it face down.
When both teams are ready to begin, the Foremen each look at the blueprint and
begin giving verbal instructions to their team on how to build it. The team cannot see
the blueprint and the Foremen cannot point, gesture, or touch the blocks. Copying the
other team’s structure is allowed.
When the first team thinks their structure is complete, a team member must say
“Done!” and all construction stops.
The other team inspects the completed structure. If it matches the blueprint, the team
is awarded a point. If the structure is incorrect, the team loses a point.
Play a warm-up round first. Then start with using the Apprentice blueprints. When
you feel it is appropriate, switch to the more difficult Journeyman blueprints and then
eventually advance to the Master Builder blueprints. (recommended: 4 rounds each)
This is up to you. The game can end when a certain time limit has passed, a certain score
has been reached, the same team has won 3 rounds in a row, or something else you decide!
How did you develop your team process? What improvements did you make?
How do you think this activity relates to the “real world”?
After a few rounds with the Master Builder blueprints, switch to the Challenge Mode.
Additional constraint: now the Foreman cannot see the structure their team is building!
*Note: The original game instructions have been modified for UX and product development teams. This version is unaffiliated with the
original makers of Instructures, The Game of Construction by InstructionTM
. For the companion presentation visit: http://goo.gl/fq878j
MATERIALS:
a flat surface, building blocks, blueprints, 6-8 people, 45 minutes